Senior Environmental Specialist - Pesticides and Air Quality Compliance

Posting number: 100195-260813

Department: Community Development

Job classification: Senior Environmental Specialist - Pesticides and Air Quality Compliance

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Community Development

Summary

Under supervision of the Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Division (CDD/EPNR) Supervisor. The Senior Environmental Specialist (SES) – Pesticides and Air Quality Compliance (PAQC) will conduct a variety of inspections, research, analysis and evaluation tasks associated with environmental regulations, pesticides and hazardous substances management, land use and development, and air quality compliance. This job class is treated as FLSA Exempt.

Distinguishing Features: The SES PAQC is the Community and Tribal Government’s primary point of contact that ensures activities within the Community related to pesticides and air quality are managed safely and in compliance with all EPA requirements and SRPMIC Ordinances.

Essential Functions: Essential functions may vary among positions and may include the following tasks and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of tasks performed by the SES – PAQC

Examples of duties

1. Operations: Oversees all pesticide applications, pesticides and hazardous substances storage, and farming and construction practices contributing particulates to the air within the SRPMIC. 

• Inspects and monitors pesticide application operations including, but not limited to, operating techniques, dispensing equipment, and mixing, loading and handling procedures, as well as use of protective equipment and clothing.
• Investigates, monitors and inspects overall pesticides and hazardous substances use, sales and distribution within SRPMIC boundaries.
• Monitors farming companies, construction sites, and point sources (e.g. sand and gravel operations, Salt River Landfill, gas stations, etc.) operating within SRPMIC boundaries to ensure compliance with Tribal and Federal air quality, dust control, and open burning requirements. 
• Inspects and monitors all hazardous substance and pesticide storage facilities, container rinsing and disposal procedures, application records, written instructions and recommendations.
• Develops Community hazardous substance and pesticide-related processes including enforcement and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Monitors use and application of restricted-use pesticides.
• Ensures compliance with all EPA and Community safety policies, practices and procedures.
• Attend training seminars and meetings to maintain current professional education.
• Maintains up-to-date Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Inspector credentials.

2. Safety: Helps ensure the protection of all Community members, employees, natural and cultural resources due to hazardous substances and pesticide application.

• Conducts Tier I and II Worker Protection Inspections.
• Assists with coordinating and implementing household hazardous waste collection events for the SRPMIC.
• Develops and recommends pesticide-related ordinances and standard operating procedures.
• Documents, records, issues, and implement enforcement actions including Notices of Violations (NOVs).
• Develops and conducts an educational Hazardous Substance and Pesticide Outreach Program designed to support the safety-related goals of the Community.
• Investigates complaints and unusual incidents and conducts comprehensive investigations of pesticides and hazardous substances spills, accidents or suspected violations that may have resulted in injury or damage to persons, livestock, crops, property, or the environment.
• Investigates and documents dust, track-out, and open burning complaints and provides reports to the Environmental Engineer (EE) – Air Quality. 
• Conducts interviews of witnesses or persons having pertinent knowledge and information; prepares and submits reports on findings.
• Monitors provisions of experimental use permits or emergency use permits issued by the EPA or the Community and ensures full compliance with permit provisions.

3. Administration: Ensures all activities related to hazardous substances and pesticides as well as air quality are managed in compliance with all Federal and Tribal regulations, ordinances, and policies. 

• Ensures Tribal Government Departments use environmentally friendly substances whenever possible 
• Ensures Tribal Government Departments utilize regulated substances in a safe manner consistent with federal manufacturers’ guidelines and federal re